Vehicle door latch mechanism



Aug. 12, 1952 w, ENDTER 2,606,784

VEHICLE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed March 15. 1949 A 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOR.

5 5544054442 A. Evorze,

ATTORNEY.

W. A. ENDTER VEHICLE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Aug. 12, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 15, 1949 WALDEMAE A; fi vo TEE,

INV ENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 12, 1952 i UNITE D OFF Q jlacosnslg V I VEHIcLEDQOR-L T HMECHANISM- Waldemar Endter, Long'BeachrCalifr Application March115, 1949,1S'erial 'No 8l;54l

"-This invention hasto dowith latch devices; typically latch mechanisms forautomotive or other vehicle doors and closures,- and is directed particularly to improvements ina type of floating li. e.,- swinging and bodily movable) bolt latchdeviceof the general character dealt within" my copending application Serial Number 783,184,. filed October 30, 1947, on Floating .Bolt Latch Mechanisms, now .Patent No. 2569,046

Briefly, the bolt structure and mode. of. oper.-. Y

ation with I which Tram herein concerned,; .in-. volves a housing, applicable, for. example, toan automobile door pillar, and.-containing abolt projecting from thehousing for engagement with adoor-carried keeper. 7 The boltmay be rotatable in response to'both manual effort and spring urging The desirable characteristicsand ad: vantages of a; take-upaction (tending con-, stantlyto crowd the door tightly closed against the pillar) is accomplished bythe capacity of the bolt for rotation anditsbodily displacement within the housingby a movableand preferablyv rotatable, spring urged cam interposed between the bolt and housing. These features are embodied generally in the disclosure of my earlier filedappli'cation referred to above.

The present'invention has for its primary ob ject to improve the bolt, cam and housing as sembly in'various respects favoring the practicability and cos't'of manufacture, as well as the important requirement of initial and sustained accuracy in the shape and dimensional relation of'the parts; Specifically, the invention aims to insure accuracy in-thesupport' given the cam at spaced locations against the housing, by engaging the cam periphery at bothlocationsdirectly against the side wall of the housing so that the cam occupies'the full dimension of the housing chamber between those locations. The accuracy with which the housingmay be formed in production, assures maintenance at all times of the exact desired spacing and'shaping of the cam contacted "housing surfaces.

Also contemplated are novel features with respect to "themanner -'in which the cam and bolt actuating springs are accommodatedwithin the housing; while the cam is permitted to extend therein from "wall to wall. Further, the invention-provides the cam with novel flanged form and" shape characteristics contributing to de-'- 'sirable'bearing surfacesas well asthe accommodation of the springs'within the cam.

All the aforementionedfeatures, as' well 'as additional objects and details'will beundrstood to better advantage from -the following descrip tion of an illustrative embodiment shown by the accompanying drawingin which: 1

Fig. 1 is aview showing the-bolt and its hous v ing inoutside'elevation, engaged in latched cone dition with the keeper parts;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the bolt and'housing in the aspect of Fig. l; I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on linea -3: of Fig-.12; Fig; 4 is a view similar to. Fig; 2 with a .por-J: tion of the housing broken-away to directly-ex pose the bolt and cam, the bolthereappearing in retracted position;

Fig. 5 is aview taken on line -5-.-5 of Fig; 3, showing the parts as viewed from the inner side of the housing; r

Figs. 6 and '7 areperspectiveviews, respectivelyof the bolt and cam;

Fig. 8v is a viewosimilar to Fig. 5 showinga; variational form otthe invention; and Y Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken on line 9+9 ofFig. '8;

The bolt and cam assembly is contained within a'housi-ng, generallyindicated at. I0, comprising a base plate I laprovided with'holes 12 for receptionof screws I3, see Fig. 3, for attachment of the housing-to the usualautomobile 'doorpillar indicated bythe dot-dashxlines I4. Formed integrallywith the base plate isa shell I5 con! tainingand defining the bolt and cam chamber I6,"the outer and lower walls: I'LandIB-ofithe shell beingcut away to form thebolt-passing opening I9. As illustrated, except for the opening, the walls of the shell are continuous; thus afiorcling a compact and deformation-resistant structure giving bearing support-to'the cam, as later explained.

Chamber I6 contains the cam 20, see particularly Fig. '7, which has an outer curved flange 2 I, a portion 22 of which is struck inwardly to form the spring-receiving notch 23, and an inner sagmental circular flange '24 of somewhatgreater than degree extent. Flanges 2| and 24 are connected by the radial web 25 which in' the po-v sition of thecam assumed within the'ho'using, is adjacent'the outer-wall II thereof, asshown in Fig, 3.

The bolt 26, see Fig; 6, has a segmental cylindrical hub 27' seated concentrically within opening 28 defined by the cam flange .245; so that the boltis carried by the cam and rotatablerela tive thereto about the center of axis at 291(see Fig: 4) of opening 728'. The bolt has anouter curved'keeper engaging face 30," beyond which the bolt *is recessed-at 3 I for engagement with the keeper in the safety catch position. Rotation of the bolt in an antilatching direction is arrested by engagement of the bolt surface 32 with the housing shoulder at 33. Opposite swinging movement of the bolt is limited by the engageability of its surface 34 with the housing shoulder 35.

The cam is constantly urged in a direction tending to bodily thrust or displace the bolt in a latching direction and relative to the housing H), by coil spring 36, one end 35a of which is received within the cam notch 23 and bears against the cam portion 22, the opposite end 3622 of the spring being stationarily anchored within an opening in the housing. As will be understood, the tendency of spring 36 is to urge the cam for rotation in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and in so doing to bodily thrust the bolt outwardly from the housing by reason of the later described eccentricity of the cam relative to the housing.

- The bolt 26 is rotatable relative to the cam, against the resistance of a coil spring 38 received concentrically within spring 36 about an extension 39 of the bolt hub. One end 38a of the spring is received within slot 40 in the hub eX- tension, and outer end 382) of the spring is stationarily received within, an opening in the housing. Spring 38 tends to rotate the bolt counterclockwise relative to the cam and to a limiting position (with respect to the cam) at which the bolt shoulder 41a is engageable against the end face 4! of the cam flange.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the cam has a curved surface 42 engageable against the housing surface 43 which may have substantially corresponding curvature. The opposite side of the cam flange has a surface-curved at a relatively larger radius continuing along increasing" curvature at 45 to the flattened surface 48. In all positions, the cam is'engageable against theicurved housing surfaces 43 and ll, and in the fully retracted position of the bolt shown in Fig. 4, the cam may engage'or approach engagement with the housing surface 49. Referring to Fig. 2; it will be observed that'the .arcuate extent of the housing surface fl is "such that the cam is confined between that surface and the housing surfaces 43 and e againstbodily displacement in the line of-the thrust exerted against the bolt, so that the cam becomes releasably wedged against displacement in all latched positions of the bolt wherein the bolt thrust is transmitted to thecam.

It will be'understood that the described bolt and cam assembly may be used in conjunction with any desired form of keeper. Merely as illustrative, I have shown a keeper 5i pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a doorcarried pin 52 into and out of overlapping relation withthe bolt 26, all as more particularly dealt with in my copending application Ser. No. 705,843, filed October 26, 1945, now Patent No. 2,569,045. For present purposes, it will suffice to explain that in latched condition of the parts, the keeper assumes the position shown in Fig. 1, in which its top surface 53 is engaged by the curved face 30 of the bolt which, under the influence of the cam 28 exerts a constant take-up thrust against the keeper. In the safety catch position of the parts, the keeper nose 54 ,is receivable within the bolt recess 3!. A dove-tail relation is formed by the illustrated engagement of the bolt against the keeper, and the engagement of the top surface of the housing shell 4 with a stationary door-carried lug or abutment 55.

In considering the operation of the mecha-.

nism, assume that the door-carried keeper parts SI and 55 are brought into latched association with the bolt and housing, by movement of the keeper parts from the right, ultimately into the fully latched condition illustrated in Fig. 1. In the openposition of the door, the bolt 26 assumes the fully thrust-out position shown in Fig. 2 resulting from counter-clockwise rotation of the cam to the limiting position established by its engagement against the bolt shoulder 40 and engagement of the bolt face 34 against the housing shoulder 35. Upon engagement with the keeper, the bolt is rotated clockwise, carrying with it the cam against the resistance of spring 36. When released for rotation beyond the safety catch position, in which the keeper nose 54 is receivable within the bolt recess 3|, the bolt is snapped by its spring .into the keeper, ind e pendently of the cam. Then the cam action follows and advances the bolt along the keeper surface 53 to the fully latched position of Fig. 1, and at the same time to thrust the bolt outwardly of the housing to effect the take-up action tending to crowd the door against the usual pillar cushion (not shown). As previously indicated, the bolt thrust ista'ken by engagement of the cam against the housing'surfacel'l and '50, the relative angularities of which...are sufficient to wedge the cam against retraction from any advanced position, while at the same "time leaving the cam' sufficiently free for further advancement under the influence of spring 36, as the bolt is brought to full home position. As explained in my copending applicationreferred to above, the parts maybe disengaged from latched association by swinging the keeper 51 about pivot- 52 downwardly awayfrom the bolt.

Figs; 8 and 9 illustrate a variational form of the invention in which the bolt thrust is transmitted and: at one side of the cam to the housing wall, and at the other, side of the cam to a pin support so positioned and shaped as to hold. the cam against retrogrademovement, while permitting its, advancementunder the'influence of the cam-urging spring. Here the curved portion 56 of the outer cam flange is shown to be engageable against the correspondingly curved housing surface 56a and the straightsurface 5'! beyond. The opposite curved side 58 of the cam flange is engageable against the curved housing-surface .59 and also against a cylindrical surface pin 80, see Fig, 9, terminating intheouter housing wall BI and in the inside cover plate 62. As willbeapparent, in all latched positions of the. bolt, its line of thrust transmission to the cam is between the housing surfaces 55,-51 and pin 60, and accordingly the-cam is given such-wedge engagement with .the housing and pin surfaces as will prevent antilatching cam rotation, while permitting advancement of the cam as. thebolt progressively is moved to full home position.f

The primary purpose of engaging the cam against the pin 80, is to further assure-unintentional retraction of the cam when the bolt is in latch position. Preferably the element 60 consists ofa hardened steel pin presenting against the cam a-conv'ex surface which may tend to penetrate very slightly into the cam surface, particularly if the latter is a. softer metal. and thus assure proper retentionv of the cam in all of its bolt latching positions.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a stationary mem-' her and a swinging closure member, the comb-ination comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on one of the members and including a base and a wall projecting outwardly from said base and defining the interior sides of a bolt chamber, portions of said sides being concavely curved; cam means mounted for rotation within said chamber and including a radial web having an outer axially-projecting flange provided with convex peripheral surface portions engaging said curved portions of said chamber sides at peripherally spaced locations; and a bolt carried by said cam means for limited rotation with respect thereto and having a peripheral surface portion projecting out of said chamber for rotative latching engagement with a keeper mounted on the other of the members, said cam means being effective upon rotation in the direction of latching engagement of said bolt to shift the rotational axis of the latter to bodily displace said bolt, relative to the one member, in keeper-engaging direction.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 including a spring within the housing urging the cam means to rotate in a latching direction.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 including spring means contained within the confines of the cam means and separately urging the cam means and the bolt to rotate in a latching direction.

l. The structure defined in claim 1 including a pair of coil springs contained one within the other and within the housing to one side of the web, said springs engaging said cam means and the bolt, respectively, and separately urging said cam means and said bolt to rotate in a latching direction.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the cam means includes an inner arcuate flange projecting axially from the web and extending through an arc greater than 180 to define a bolt-carrying recess and the bolt has a convex arcuate surface portion peripherally spaced from the keeper-engaging surface portion and fitting within said recess.

6. In a latch mechanism for a stationary member and a swinging closure member, the combination comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on one of the members and including a base and a wall projecting outwardly from said base and defining the interior sides of a bolt chamber, portions of said sides being concavely curved; cam means mounted for rotation within said chamber and including a radial web having an outer axially-projecting flange provided with convex peripheral surface portions engaging said curved portions of said chamber sides at peripherally spaced locations and an inner axiallyprojecting arcuate flange extending through an are greater than 180 to define a bolt-carrying recess; and a bolt carried within said recess for limited rotation with respect to said cam means and having a peripheral surface portion projecting out of said recess and out of said chamber for rotative latching engagement with a keeper mounted on the other of the members, said cam means being effective upon rotation in the direction of latching engagement of said bolt to shift 6 the rotational axis of the latter to bodily displace said bolt, relative to the one member, in keeper-engaging direction.

'7. In a latch mechanism for a stationary member and a swinging closure member, the combination comprising: cam means adapted to be mounted for rotation on one of the members and having outer convex peripheral surface portions; a bolt carried by said cam means for limited rotation thereon and having a peripheral surface portion for rotative latching engagement with a keeper mounted on the other of the members; and means adapted to be fixedly mounted on the one member and defining an abutment surface having concave portions extending about said cam means in opposition to the peripheral surface portions thereof and for rotation of said cam means thereagainst, said fixed means also defining a' convex abutment surface of smaller radius of curvature than and rotatively engaged by a convex peripheral surface portion of said cam means and being disposed to receive the reaction thrust of said bolt in all rotative positions of the latter, said cam means being effective upon rotation in the direction of latching rotation of said bolt to shift the rotational axis of the latter to bodily displace said bolt, relative to the one membenin keeper-engaging direction.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 in which the convex abutment surface is formed by a hardened steel pin.

9. In a latch mechanism for a stationary member and a swinging closure member, the combination comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on one of the members and including a base and a wall projecting outwardly from said base and defining the interior sides of a bolt chamber, portions of said sides being concavely curved; cam means mounted for rotation within said chamber and having convex peripheral surface portions engaging said curved portions of said chamber sides at peripherally spaced locations; a bolt carried by said cam means for limited rotation with respect thereto and having a peripheral surface portion projecting out of said chamber for rotative latching engagement with a keeper mounted on the other of the members, said cam means being effective upon rotation in the direction of latching engagement of said bolt to shift the rotational axis of the latter to bodily displace said bolt, relative to the one member, in keeper-engaging direction; and a circular pin projecting from said base within said chamber and rotatively engaged by a convex peripheral surface portion of said cam means, said pin being disposed to receive the reaction thrust of said bolt in all rotative positions of the latter.

WALDEMAR A. ENDTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 609,904 Peters Aug. 30, 1898 1,891,224 Edwards Dec. 20, 1932 2,376,992 Endter May 29, 1945 

